Method of making binders and split rings therefor



Nov. 6, 1 945.

METHOD OF MAKING BINDERS AND SPLIT RING THEREFOR c. E. EMMER 2,388,397

Original Filed Jan. 2, 1945 C' H491. E8 flu/.4190 [Fame-e.

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Patented Nov. 6, 1945 METHOD OF MAKING BINDERS AND SPLIT RINGS THEREFOR Charles Edward Emmer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to General Binding Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application January 2., 1943, Serial No. 471,175. Divided and this application April 26, 1943, Serial'No. 484,530

1 Claim. (oi. 18-48) This invention'relates to a binding structure particularly adapted for use in the binding of papers, magazines, books and the like, and more particularly to a new method of making a binder and a split ring therefor.

The subject matter of this application has been divided from my copending application Serial No. 471,175, filed January 2, 1943, issued on November 28, 1944, as Patent No. 2,363,848;

An object of this invention is to provide a new method of making a binder havinga split ring structure for use in the binding of loose leaf papers and the like whereby a strip of synthetic plastic material may be utilized to provide in the binder flexibility for the opening of the ring portions as well as for the opening of the sides or' cover of the book.

Another object of this invention isto provide a method of making a binder ring structure which includes the step of imparting flexibility to the ring structure by the plasticizing of an intermediate portion of the ring structure.

Still another object of the invention is to pro,- vide a simplified method of forming a ring. structure whereby inherent features of the material of the ring structure may be utilized in the provision of flexibility in the ringstructure.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided a method of making a binder ring which comprises forming from a strip of synthetic plastic material a binder ring forming of the sides of a book or the like from the same type of material as is used in the .imparting of flexibility to a split ring structure in the book.

Other objects and features of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description of several forms of articles made in accordance with the methods of my invention and wherein: V v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a binder strip embodying-the features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view through a portion of the strip of Figure 1 showing the manner in which it cooperates with ring portions. to define a split binder ring; i 1 a Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 butshowing the manner in which the opposite ring portions may be spread apart by flexing the intermediate connecting portion of the base strip;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 3 illustrating a modification of the invention wherein the ring portions, instead of being integral with the base strip, are attached to the base strip; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing how the cooperable ring portions may be separated by the flexing of the portion of, the base strip connecting such portions and also showing in dotted lines a modification wherein the base strip may be formed integral with the sides or cover of a book or pamphlet;

opposite ring portions embraces both the upper and bottom sides of the adjoining connected ends of the ring; and

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a further modification.

As shown in the drawing:

' It is believed that my novel methods of making a binder and a split ring structure therefor, will be best understood from a description of several forms of binder structures made in accordance with the steps of the methods.

Reference character l0 designates generally a fiat strip of synthetic plastic material from which are integrally formed a plurality of spaced split binder rings I I. It is to be understood that any number of rings may be formed from the strip as desired and that my invention is not only applicable to a strip having a plurality of rings but is also applicable to a single plastic ring such as is shown in the modification of Figure 6.

Each ring H has diametrically opposite ring portions I 2-42 cooperable in abutting relation at their opposite ends and defining a split I3 between the opposite ends. The other ends of the ring portions l2 are connected by an intermediate portion of the strip proper designated in Figure 2 by the reference character l4.

It should be noted at this time that I have'not used the term ring in the sense that the ring must be a true circle since it is evident from Figures 4 and 5 that the ring may equally well have a non-circular shape. Accordingly, when I have used the term ring portion, I refer to a binder ring having a split therein with opposite portions thatare adapted to be separated to permit the application of the ring to sheets to be bound, such, for example, as loose leaf sheets or the like.

In the modification of Figure 4, the ring portions I2, instead of being formed out of the base strip Ill, are in reality separate portions which are suitably fastened to the base strip H! by a suitable plastic binding material or adhesive of which there are many different brands on the market, and such as a vinyl lacquer. In this form, it will be noted that each ring portion l2 has an inwardly bent leg portion l5 which is attached to the strip ID. The two leg portions l5 are separated by an intermediate flexible base portion N in the strip l.

Attention is also directed to the fact that, in Figures 3 and 5, I have illustrated the manner in which the rings of Figures 2 and 4 are adapted to be opened by the flexing of the intermediate connecting base portions |4-|4'.

It should also be noted that, in the forms of invention shown in Figures 1 to 3, only a small portion of the base strip may be treated by a plasticizer to make that portion flexible. On the other hand, in the other forms of the invention illustrated herein, the entire base stripmay be cut from a plasticized sheet of synthetic plastic material so that the entire base strip is more flexible than the relatively more rigid ring portions.

Also, in Figure 7 I have illustrated by dotted lines at Hlb a base strip, which illustration makes it clear that the basestrip may be applied to the top sides of the legs l5-l5 as well as to the bottom sides as shown in Figure 4. In either event, whether the base strip is. on the top or on the side vof the adjoining legs of. the ring portions, it serves to provide a flexible connection between the connected extremities of the ring portions.

Figure 5 illustrates the manner in which a ring structure, such as that shown in Figure 4, may be opened and further shows by dotted lines at 2U20 how the base strip Ill may constitute an integral portion of the sides or cover of a book. The dotted line portions 20 show the sides or cover of the book when the book is opened, and these sides or cover may constitute portions of the same sheet from which the base strip H1 is formed.

Excellent and economical results can be attained from such a structure, particularly where the base strip and the sides or cover of the book are made from sheet plastic material, such, for exampIe, as a plasticized vinyl resin or a rubberlike material (natural or synthetic) or any other suitable material. In such a modification, the portion of the plastic sheet joining the two sides 20-2U serves as a flexible back for the book and also as a flexible connection between the juxtaposed extremities ll5" of the ring portions In Figure 6, I have illustrated a still further modification of the invention in which ring portions [2a, instead of being attached or integral with a base strip, are connected by a connector 10a, which may be of arcuate configuration if desired. The connector Illa may be attached to the adjoining ends of the ring portion. l2arl2a by any suitable plastic binding or cementitious material of which there are many brands on the market, as noted before.

The connector Illa has an intermediate flexible portion [4a which the opposite ring portions |2a-l2a are adapted to flex when the split ring is opened to permit the introduction of sheets to be bound by the ring. It will be understood that, in the use of these rings of my invention, they are applied to sheets in the usual way through the conventional holes in the sheets spaced apart for the reception of binder rings.

The connector lOa may be in the form of an individual sleeve for each ring or may comprise a portion of an elongated strip for a multiple of the rings and which strip has a plurality of transverse openings for the reception of the ends of the ring portions I'M-42a to be connected together. If desired, the connector I [la may comprise two strips of plasticized synthetic plastic sheet, one on I the top of the extremities of the ring portions and the other on the bottom, and which strips are suitably cemented together by means of a plastic binder.

In Figures 4, 5, and 6, the sides or cover of the book may be formed integral with the base strip if it is so desired; this is exemplified by the structure shown in dotted lines at 2il20 in Figure 5.

An advantage of the ring structures shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6, wherein the ring portions each comprise substantially one half of the ring, resides in the fact that this structure lends itself to a press formation or injection or compression molding with thermo-setting material. In other words, each ring half may be economically fabricated from suitable plastic material in a press operation, thereby eliminating the need for a coiling operation such as used in the formation of continuous ring structures shown in Figure 1.

The rings could be made of other material such, for example, as metal, wood or fiber, if it was so desired, as long as such rings were fastened to a plastic or a synthetic resin backing strip adapted to fiex in the opening and closing of the rings.

Now, in the use of these split binder rings it is desirable that they be made relatively rigid so as to withstand the wear and tear incident to their use and so that they will perform their intended binding functions. On the other hand, there must be sutficient flexibility at the connecting junction of the opposite ring portions so that they may be easily and resiliently flexed open and shut. In accordance with the features of this invention, I propose to provide the requisite resiliency at the connecting junction of the ring portions by so treating the plastic material at the junction portion that it will have greater resiliency and flexibility than the material of the ring portions proper,

It should be noted that the synthetic plastic used in the making of the rings disclosed hereinabove may be made of any of the now well known plastics on the market. For illustration, the ring portions may be made of a synthetic thermo plastic material such as the so-called vinyl ester resins. These resins are now available on the market in a number of different forms, such as polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, and copolymerized vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate. The synthetic plastic used may also be of the socalled' nylon type, which is the generic name for all materials defined scientifically as synthetic fiber-forming polymeric amides.

, I also contemplate the use of synthetic materials of the type referred to as acrylics or of the type referred to as cellulose acetates. The characteristics of such synthetic thermo plastics are now well known, as will be evident from the 1942 Plastics Catalog published by Plastics Catalogue Corporation. Therefore, in referring to these plastics, I refer to them in the same sense as they are referred to in the aforesaid publication.

It is also well known that certain plastics may be softened or rendered less brittle or more flexible by treating the same with a plasticizer. The plasticizers for the different synthetic plastics are also well known in the art, as is evident from the aforesaid publication.

In accordance with the feataures of my invention, I propose to apply a plasticizer solely to the connecting junction piece of my binder ring structure, such as the pieces l4, l4, and Ida. By subjecting each of these pieces alone to the action of a plasticizer, which in some cases may be a solvent, only this connection is rendered more flexible and the remaining rigidity of the ring is not affected.

When a synthetic thermo plastic in the form of a vinyl resin is used, I have found that the desired plasticizing action may be effected by the use of esters, certain halogenated hydrocarbons, ethers, certain amines, and by lower aromatic hydrocarbons. Such a plasticizer is only applied to the restricted connecting piece between the joined ends of the split ring so that this piece will be rendered more resilient thereafter.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

The method of making a binder ring for use in the binding of loose leaf notebooks, paper, magazines, and the like which comprises forming from a strip of synthetic thermoplastic material a binder ring member having opposite portions cooperating to define a split ring at one side and joined at their other side by a connecting base portion and subjecting the base portion to the action of a plasticizer confined to a centrally disposed zone extending in a direction normal to the disposition of the opposite portions of the ring for rendering said base portion more flexible whereby the base portion may be flexed in said zone to permit of the separation of the ODDosite portions of the ring.

CHARLES EDWARD EMMER. 

